I got NI Kontrol S61. I have Arturia V Collection X and Pigments (Arturia MIDI controller will not give me much more). All my VSTs (including VSL, Pianoteq plus a few other VSTs) are in Kontakt, together with NI instruments I already had or just acquired and Arturia packages. Best of two (or three) worlds 😊 I have a laptop computer just slightly above and away from my keyboard so I use the drawbars (mostly when I play Hammond B3) on the computer. I do not use drum pads for anything (this is why returned my Roland Juno-D)
Awesome video, Ian with many great points! I have the KeyLab Mark II and feel like it's adequate for my needs but you always make the NI series look appealing as well. Thanks for sharing!
I already have a good MIDI controller, but if I needed a new one, I would probably pick the Native Instruments S Series, for the NKS compatibility. For those who want to use their keyboard outside of the studio without needing to be connected to a computer, an interesting third option is the Arturia Astrolab. It has 10 synthesis engines built-in, so it can edit and play back presets from more than 40 of Arturia’s soft synths, including Pigments and most of the V Collection instruments. It can store up to 1300 presets, including ones you create or buy. it is basically a hardware version of the Analog Lab Pro software, which also happens to be included with the hardware. Unfortunately, it is currently only available with 61 semi-weighted keys.
Great comparison Ian. I wonder if you could give your detailed observations on the keybeds. How much is involved in triggering the aftertouch? Is the Mk3 noticeably weighted? Thanks.
Thank you. I haven't tried the new Keylab so can't comment on that. The S Mk iii has what I'd call a typical synth feel although how good or right this is will depend on the user. Keyboards are something you really need to try for yourself if you can. The aftrtouch on the Mk iii requires a bit of pressure - you're unlikely to trigger it accidentally - although it requires more pressure and movement on the white keys than the black. I'm not overly-familiar with aftertouch keyboards so don't know if this is usual. I suspect it probably is. AT is probably not something you'd be triggering on fast runs 😊
Great video, Ian, thank you! I use Kontakt a lot, and in general, I’d also like to use Komplete Kontrol, meaning the software. However, Arturia's new keyboard simply suits me better. My only concern is whether the integration with Kontakt and Komplete Kontrol will work smoothly. In your video, you mentioned that each keyboard is optimized for its own software. But since I use Native Instruments products extensively, yet prefer Arturia's keyboard, will I still be able to work comfortably with it?
If you're happy controlling Komplete Kontrol and Kontakt from the computer screen you can use any keyboard. However, only the NI keyboards give you keyboard control over the software and the Mk iii is needed for Kontakt. It's a real shame NI didn't make the Mk iii more of a general use controller 😤
@@IanWaugh . Thank you for your quick response, Ian! Is there really no way to use Kontakt with Arturia's keyboard? I have Kontakt, but being able to browse directly from the keyboard, rather than the computer, is important to me
@@asafbl1922 I don't have the Arturia so don't know for sure. The Mk iii has MIDI Templates which let you control other instruments although it's not the automatic assignment you get with NKS. Maybe the Arturia has something similar. Another possibility might be to get one of the cheaper NI keyboards but, again, I don't have one so don't know how much control they offer but might be worth checking 🤔
I questioned earlier today on an older vid of yours why anyone would use Komplete Kontrol software without the keyboard integration. Looks like you use it primarily as a librarian to sort through 85000 presets. Wow! I can certainly see how it is useful for that! And I have to say that it sucks that NI has not yet implemented accessibility! That's just ridiculous given that it was already integrated in mk2. The other question I had has to do with whether or not Keylab now actually supports some, most or all of the v-coll instruments. When I tried it out two or three yrs ago it supported only Analog Lab which is great but is not the same as being able to have direct control over all the v-coll instruments, which, ironically is very much possible and well integrated into Komplete Kontrol. The lack of v-coll integration made me wonder why anyone with a keylab would bother to purchase v-collection. Anyway, I really like your balanced and real world approach. Subscribed!
Very kind and much appreciated 👍 Yes, I have far too many plugins...😊 I replied to your other Q but I couldn't see a definitive answer on the Arturia site.
PS: The Nk iiis have a different accessibility approach to the Mk iis. However, it has been integrated into the new Maschines for a year so it's hard to see why the keyboards don't have it. Perhaps if they asked the developer to work on it twice a week during his tea breaks we might see something... 😤
I got NI Kontrol S61. I have Arturia V Collection X and Pigments (Arturia MIDI controller will not give me much more). All my VSTs (including VSL, Pianoteq plus a few other VSTs) are in Kontakt, together with NI instruments I already had or just acquired and Arturia packages.
Best of two (or three) worlds 😊
I have a laptop computer just slightly above and away from my keyboard so I use the drawbars (mostly when I play Hammond B3) on the computer. I do not use drum pads for anything (this is why returned my Roland Juno-D)
Good stuff! Yes, NKS saves a massive amount of time 👍
Very informative and practical viewpoint on the gear, thank you!
Thank you, Nicky, glad it was useful 👍
Awesome video, Ian with many great points! I have the KeyLab Mark II and feel like it's adequate for my needs but you always make the NI series look appealing as well. Thanks for sharing!
Haa! Ha! Thanks, Matt 😄
I use theS Series coz I'm such a massive NI user but I love the features on the Keylab 😊
I already have a good MIDI controller, but if I needed a new one, I would probably pick the Native Instruments S Series, for the NKS compatibility.
For those who want to use their keyboard outside of the studio without needing to be connected to a computer, an interesting third option is the Arturia Astrolab. It has 10 synthesis engines built-in, so it can edit and play back presets from more than 40 of Arturia’s soft synths, including Pigments and most of the V Collection instruments. It can store up to 1300 presets, including ones you create or buy. it is basically a hardware version of the Analog Lab Pro software, which also happens to be included with the hardware. Unfortunately, it is currently only available with 61 semi-weighted keys.
NKS compatibility, even just via Komplete Kontrol is a major consideration for me now 👍
The AstroLab is interesting 😊
Great comparison Ian. I wonder if you could give your detailed observations on the keybeds.
How much is involved in triggering the aftertouch? Is the Mk3 noticeably weighted?
Thanks.
Thank you. I haven't tried the new Keylab so can't comment on that. The S Mk iii has what I'd call a typical synth feel although how good or right this is will depend on the user. Keyboards are something you really need to try for yourself if you can.
The aftrtouch on the Mk iii requires a bit of pressure - you're unlikely to trigger it accidentally - although it requires more pressure and movement on the white keys than the black. I'm not overly-familiar with aftertouch keyboards so don't know if this is usual. I suspect it probably is. AT is probably not something you'd be triggering on fast runs 😊
Great video, Ian, thank you! I use Kontakt a lot, and in general, I’d also like to use Komplete Kontrol, meaning the software. However, Arturia's new keyboard simply suits me better. My only concern is whether the integration with Kontakt and Komplete Kontrol will work smoothly. In your video, you mentioned that each keyboard is optimized for its own software. But since I use Native Instruments products extensively, yet prefer Arturia's keyboard, will I still be able to work comfortably with it?
If you're happy controlling Komplete Kontrol and Kontakt from the computer screen you can use any keyboard. However, only the NI keyboards give you keyboard control over the software and the Mk iii is needed for Kontakt.
It's a real shame NI didn't make the Mk iii more of a general use controller 😤
@@IanWaugh . Thank you for your quick response, Ian! Is there really no way to use Kontakt with Arturia's keyboard? I have Kontakt, but being able to browse directly from the keyboard, rather than the computer, is important to me
@@asafbl1922 I don't have the Arturia so don't know for sure. The Mk iii has MIDI Templates which let you control other instruments although it's not the automatic assignment you get with NKS. Maybe the Arturia has something similar. Another possibility might be to get one of the cheaper NI keyboards but, again, I don't have one so don't know how much control they offer but might be worth checking 🤔
I questioned earlier today on an older vid of yours why anyone would use Komplete Kontrol software without the keyboard integration. Looks like you use it primarily as a librarian to sort through 85000 presets. Wow! I can certainly see how it is useful for that! And I have to say that it sucks that NI has not yet implemented accessibility! That's just ridiculous given that it was already integrated in mk2.
The other question I had has to do with whether or not Keylab now actually supports some, most or all of the v-coll instruments. When I tried it out two or three yrs ago it supported only Analog Lab which is great but is not the same as being able to have direct control over all the v-coll instruments, which, ironically is very much possible and well integrated into Komplete Kontrol. The lack of v-coll integration made me wonder why anyone with a keylab would bother to purchase v-collection.
Anyway, I really like your balanced and real world approach. Subscribed!
Very kind and much appreciated 👍
Yes, I have far too many plugins...😊
I replied to your other Q but I couldn't see a definitive answer on the Arturia site.
PS: The Nk iiis have a different accessibility approach to the Mk iis. However, it has been integrated into the new Maschines for a year so it's hard to see why the keyboards don't have it. Perhaps if they asked the developer to work on it twice a week during his tea breaks we might see something... 😤
👍👍👍
😊🙏
Are you getting GAS Ian 🤣
It's my perpetual state 😄
FYI, I own both NI Komplete Kontrol S61 MkII and Arturia Keylab 61 MkII and don't find any urge to upgrade
Hi Jose Good to know 👍
Do you use them on the same computer? If so, when do you use one as opposed to the other?